Today is National Silence the Shame Day. Mental health has increasingly become a focal point of concern and action within our society. Across the country, there is a growing recognition of the importance of mental well-being, paralleling the traditional emphasis on physical health.

Shanti Das, founder of Silence the Shame, a prominent mental health advocacy organization, has taken mental health concerns to the next level by focusing on solutions for the entertainment industry and the Black community. Recently, she announced her partnership with Microsoft. The partners are about to launch an app dedicated to mental health awareness, education and support.

NSSD brings an opportunity to continue the conversation about mental health and wellness and erase the stigma associated with mental illness. This day is significant for Das. She created a safe space for celebrities to share their stories of challenges and triumphs.

“All corporations, I think, are driven by the intention to have productivity and sometimes by any means necessary,” comments Freeman Warren, founder of Free The Vision. “When we say the statement ‘by any means necessary,’ it initially came from an intention to fight for your life. Silence the Shame is exactly that. Silence the Shame offers a space of vulnerability. It offers a space for authenticity and honesty about the fact that we’re fighting to win. But you know, in the words of Lauryn Hill, ‘How can you win if you’re not right within?’”

Nearly 1 in 5 adults, which is more than 18% of adults in the U.S., experience mental illness in a given year, as reported by the National Institute of Mental Health. Additionally, more than 450 million people around the world live with mental health issues. Initiatives to expand access to mental health services, reduce stigma, and integrate mental health education into various sectors underscore a commitment to addressing these issues.

How It Started

Das interned at Capitol Records while attending college. Even after graduation, she took another internship at Sony Music before landing a position at LaFace Records. The first tour that catapulted her career within the music industry was working with Toni Braxton. From promotions to marketing, she worked and toured with artists, including TLC, until the label sold in 2010.

From Artista to Columbia Records, the music executive worked her way up the corporate ladder, helping launch the careers of many artists, including Vivian Green. She even worked on the marketing for Prince’s Musicology project.

Das served as executive vice president of marketing at Universal Motown before leaving her half-million-dollar corner office position in early 2010. After almost 20 years in one industry, she knew it was time to step away when she started experiencing physical and mental challenges.

The Moment That Changed Everything

While boarding a plane for a vacation in 2014, her cell phone rang from her best friend, who was facing major physical health issues. Although Das couldn’t speak to her then, she referred her friend to her sister. After a 12-hour flight, her voicemail revealed that her best friend committed suicide.

“That put me on a downward spiral,” Das shares. “I blamed myself, although now I know you can’t blame yourself when things like that happen. But of course, I was not equipped with a lot of the knowledge that I am now working in mental health. It was very difficult for me, and again, I was still high functioning but just really torn apart on the inside.”

That incident stirred up emotions from when her father committed suicide when she was a baby. In 2015, Das came close to taking her own life—she just wanted the pain to go away. A friend encouraged her to call the Suicide Prevention Lifeline. She booked an appointment with a Black psychiatrist and turned a negative situation into a positive one.

Silence The Shame

The more Das spoke about her situation, the more she realized the Black community needed a safe space to discuss their issues. The movement started with 10 Black women and some panel discussions. She received her first grant from Jack and Jill of America, which allowed for a seven-city teen mental health tour.

The non-profit has since developed partnerships with Jack and Jill, the NFL Players Association, Sony Music, a college campus ambassador program and the newest collaboration with Microsoft. Silence the Shame offers corporations interactive workshops around mental health issues.

NSSD was created through all of this to provide a platform for others to speak about mental health. Silence the Shame is part of the Mental Health Coalition, which is a coalition that the fashion designer Kenneth Cole started to push the narrative forward and create healthier communities.

Celebrities including Keri Hilson, DJ Drama, NBA player Trey Young and Chloe Bailey supported Das’ initiative. Today’s awareness is helping eliminate the stigma and reduce the rates of suicide.

Jon Platt, chairman and CEO of Sony Music Publishing, comments, “Shanti has expanded the conversation around mental health in the music business and has played a role in reducing the stigma. She and her team have developed an attainable starting point toward the well-being of songwriters, artists, employees and the greater music community.”

Das’ Advice For Changing The Narrative

• Be honest with yourself about whether you need to talk to someone. Confide in someone who can point you in the right direction for professional help.
• Take the initiative for change. You don’t have to continue suffering. Reach out for assistance.
• Understand where your organization stands on mental health days and utilize its policy and procedures to better yourself.

“I stopped worrying about what the Joneses’ are saying and focused on the people that matter,” Das concludes. “I focused on exercising and traveling the world. Travel was very eye-opening for me, and it was a way to pour back into myself from a self-care perspective. Then, I focused on helping others.”